Apparatus for mining coal



April 28, 1942. N. D. LEvlN APPARATUS FOR MINING COAL Filed-Aug. 15, 19:58 ys`s1meis-shee 3 ATTY April 28,1942.v ND. LEVIN A 2,281,503

APPARATUS FOR MINING COAL Filed Aug. 15, 1938 8 sheets-sheet 4 April 2s, 1942. N. D. 1-:vm

APPARATUS FOR MINING COAL 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. l5, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheetl l6 l .Y n m A mw V D. .M 4 @.w 3 m m www .v vr N Y@ N.y D. I EvlN APPARATUS FOR MINING COAL Filed Aug. 15, v19:58

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April 2s, 1942. 'N D; I Evm I APPARATUS lFOR MINING COAL Filed Aug. 15, 1958 8 sheets-sheer 7 ATTIY.

April 28 l942 N. D. LEvlN 2,281,503

APPARATUS FOR` MINING COAL Filed Aug. '15, 1938 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 ATTY Patented Apr. 28, 1942 NT orifice APPARATUS Fon. MINING coAL Nils n. Levin, columbus, ohio, assigner to The Jeffrey Manufacturing Company, a corpora.-

tion of Ohio Application August 15, 1938, Serial No. 224,845

(ci. cs2-2s) 13 Claims.

This invention relates to a mining machine lsuch as a coal mining machine and more specilically to a combination kerf cutting and loading machine.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type which is extremely exible in operation and which has a relatively low overall height and one which can be separated into two parts each of which has its own power operating mechanism to remove'it from a mine room.

Another object of the invention is to provide an eicient combination of parts for the cutting l of a wide bottom kerf and intermediate or top horizontal kerfs in a plurality of positions to receive a hydraulic break-down jack..

A further object of the invention is to provide a balanced combination kerf cutting and conveying machine which will operate very eiciently to mine and remove coal. f

A further object of the invention isto provide means to remove slack by th'e back run of the bottom kerf cutter.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means for inching the cutter chain of a kerf cutter particularly for setting the cutter bits.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations being set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a mining machine comprising my invention shown after having cut a bottom kerf in a mine room;

Fig. 2 is an extension of Fig. l along the line 2 2 of said Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view ofthe front end of the combined mining and `loading machine with parts only shown diagrammatically in the interest of clearness;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevationalview taken substantially along the center line of the mining machine except for the drive gear train of one of the gathering conveyors which is shown in complete section;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevational view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional elevational view taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line 8 8 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevational view taken along I the line. 9-9 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a schematic plan view showing the various gear trains and drives;

Fig. 11 is a piping diagram for one of the coal break-down hydraulic jacks and the control system therefor; and f Fig. 12 is a piping diagram of the hydraulic control system of the mining machine. The mining machine comprising my invention is formed of two similar parts 20, 2| which are to be understood "as identical except for a reversal of parts and except for differences specifically pointed out, whichv two parts are complementary and go together to form the complete unit. That is, the two parts and 2l are similar, but one may be called a right hand part and the other a left hand part, and theltwo parts cooperate to provide the entire machine. It will therefore be. understood that except for obvious diierences and diii'erences specically mentioned, the description of the part 20 will also apply to the part 2l, and vice versa, taking into account that one is a right hand structure and the other a lefthand structure, similar parts carrying similar reference characters, except those associated with part 20 will b'e primed.

By reference to Figs. l, 3, 5 and 8 it Will be seen that the part 2| comprises a frame in the form of a bottom plate 22 upon which is mounted a reversible electric driving motor Z3, the drive shaft of which is provided with a pinion 24 (Figs. 4 and 10) which meshes with a large gear 25 keyed to a shaft E@ towhich is keyed another gear 27 which, in turn, meshes with and drives a gear 28 keyed to the main rear jack shaft 29 (see Fig. 5). The shaft 28 is supported from the bottom plate 22 by appropriate spaced brackets one oi which is seen at 30 (Fig. 4) and the other of which islocated-between the ltwo gears 25 and 2l. Adjacent its outer edge the bottom plate 22 is constructed to foim a cutter bar comprising guide means for a bit carrying kerf cutter chain 3l. Said guideway is formed by a peripheral plate 32 (see Figs. 5 and 8), which is spaced from and rigidly attached to the bottom plate 22 by a bottom guideway forming spacer plate 33.

At its rear end the bottomyplatev 22 is provided with a false bottom plate 34 (see Fig, 5 otvthe drawings), which is effective to guide the "rear runof the cutter chain 3l to an 'elevated posieffective to scrape cuttings up an inclined ramp 35 and discharge it into the receiving end 36 of a receiving conveyor or feeder 31, as hereinafter described more completely. The plate 32 is also elevated to follow the contour of the false bottom 34 at the rear end, as clearly illustrated in Fig. of the drawings. spaced above the bottom plate 22 at said rear end and supportedtherefrom is atop plate 38 which gradually slopes downwardly toward the front where it joins the bottom plate 22, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 8

of the drawings. This top plate 38 forms the pan or bottom of the scraper gathering conveyor 39, as hereinafter described in complete detail.

The afore-described jack shaft 29 is supported in an appropriate journal bearing at one end in a bracket 40 (see Fig. 5), which extends between the plates 32 and 38 and at the other end in a. bracket 4I suspended from the said top plate 38, the latter bracket being journaled upon the hub of aforementioned gear 28 and of a coupling member 42 keyed to said shaft 29, which coupling member42 cooperates with a similar coupling member 42' of the part 20 keyed to v'shaft 29 of said part 28 which is generally similar to shaft 29. It may be stated that the two parts and 2| are removably attached together by removably attached cooperating interlocking means 43, clearly illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The cutter chain 3| is retained in the aforementioned guideway by retaining flanges 44 the mine floor by being slid thereover, as hereinafter described in complete detail. At the same time, the rear run of the cutter chain 3| will scrape cuttings along the inclined ramp and discharge it into the end 36 of the feeder 31.

Power to drive the cutter chain 3| is derived from the jack shaft 29 by way of beveled pinion 45 (see Fig. 5) keyed to one end of said shaft 29 which meshes with beveled gear 4 6 which, in o turn, is keyed to sleeve 41 journaled in bracket 48 rigidly attached to top plate 38. An anti-friction thrust bearing 49 is also provided between the beveled gear 46 and the bracket 48. Journaled within the sleeve 41 is an upright shaft 50 the bottom of which is journaled to the aforedescribed bracket 40, which shaft 50 carries a drive sprocket 5| which meshes with and drives the cutter chain 3l.

To effect a normal driving relation between the beveled gear46 and the shaft 5|) to drive the cutter chain 3| said beveled gear 46 is provided with bottom jaws 52 adapted to receive a sliding tion above the bottom of the mine floor which is.

55 to effect a driving relation between the shaft 5|)V and the sleeve 41. Said friction clutch 55 comprises a clutch element 56 which is keyed to the sleeve 41 and a cooperating movable clutch element 51 preferably provided with a friction clutch band 58 and shiftable into and out of engaging relation by appropriate ball bearing vshipper mechanism 59 controlled by an appropriate operating handle. The clutch element 51 is feathered on the shaft 50 for free vertical adjustment with respect thereto.

It may be mentioned that there is yonly one drive sprocket 5| associated with the cutter chain 3| and consequently the shaft 29 does not have associated withit any gear similar to the beveled pinion l45 or any of the mechanism driven from said beveled pinion 45. This is evident by reference to Fig. 10 of the drawings.

By reference particularly to Figs. 1, 3 and 8 of the drawings, it will be seen that the bottom plate 22 of the part 20 and the similar bottom plate of the part 2|, as well as the horizontal forward portion of the top plate 38 which joins the bottom plate 22 at the forward portion of the machine, cooperate to provide a material receiving pan or area 68 for the coal which is cut and broken loose.

The previously mentioned gathering conveyor mechanism 39 is provided to convey material received by said pan or area 68 rearwardly and to discharge it into a hopper 6| (see Figs. 3 and 4). of the-receiving conveyor or feeder 31 by which it is conveyed to a receptacle suchas a room conveyor 62, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The gathering conveyor 39 for the part 2| has as its bottom the top plate 36 over which the coal is conveyed. Mounted upon said plate 38 is an endless chain guideway 63 adapted to receive and maintain therein an endless chain 64 to which is attached a plurality of gathering flights 65 which, as illustrated in the drawings, have top serrated edges which will bite into the coal and are particularly eective to remove coal when in the form of a semi-compact mass. By reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings, it will be evident that the flights 65 of the gathering conveyor 39 associated with part 2| cooperate with similar flights associated with a' similar gathering conveyor 39' on the part 20 to convey material along a central longitudinal axis 'of the complete mining machine and to discharge it into said hopper 6| of the receiving conveyor or feeder 31.

To drive the endless chain 64 of the conveyor 39 I provide a drive sprocket 66 (Fig. 4) which meshes therewith and which is keyed to an upright shaft 61 journaled at its top in a cup 68 carried at the rear end of the top plate 38, the bottom of which shaft 61 is keyed to a large beveled gear 69 which is journaled in a cup 10 carried by a rearwardly extending plate 1| rigidly attached to Ythe top plate 38, which beveled gear 69 meshes with a drive pinion 12 loosely journaled on a shaft 13, which shaft 13 is journaled to brackets 14`and 15, the former of which is rigidly attached to and extends between top plate 38 and plate 1|, and the latter of which is supported by said plate 1|.

The shaft 13 carries at its forward end a beveled pinion 16 (see Fig. 10), which meshes with a beveled pinion 11 keyed to the shaft 29 (see Figs. 5 and 10) To effect a selective driving relation for the sprocket 66 and consequently for the endless conveyor chain 64 the pinion 12 is provided with jaws ings.

2,281,503 3 I guide 96 (see Flgs. `3 and 5), the outer end of 18 adapted to be selectively engaged with jaws l19 of sh'iftable clutch element 90 feathered to the shaft 13. Appropriate operating means is provided for shifting the clutch element 80 into and out of clutch engaging relation and maintaining kit in either desired position.

To drive the ,conveyor mechanism 39 associated with the 'part 20, similar to the conveyor 39, the beveled gear 69 has rigidly attached to it a ring gear 8| which meshes with a similar ring gear 8|' associated with shaft 61' which carries a drive sprocket 06' for driving said gathering .conveyor mechanism 39 of the part 20. It will, of course, be understood that there is no structure associated with the part '20 similar to the pinion 11 and all those parts driven thereby illustrated particularly in Fig. 4 of the drawings, as is inanifest from a consideration of Fig. of the draw- As was previously mentioned, eachof the parts 20 and 2| is provided with an individual handling drum which is particularly useful to remove said part individually from the mine room after the machine has completed the operation in any room, which drum may also be employed to aid the feeding of the mining machine whenever hard material is encountered or maybe employed to -move the mining machine away from the working face in case a hard materialI is encountered and it is desired to back the machine off and adjust its elevation, by means hereinafter described in full detail, to present a new attack.

The handling drum associated with the parte20 is illustrated in detail, particularly by reference to Figs. 1, 9 and 10 of the drawings, ,and it will be understood that a similar construction is associated with the part 2|.

Mounted upon the shaft 29' and keyed thereto is a beveled pinion 82', the equivalent of which for the part 2| is seen at 82 in Fig. 5 of the drawings, which pinion 82 meshes with another beveled pinion 83' keyed to a shaft 84 mounted upon appropriate journal bearings and carrying an eccentric 85 which drives a pistn type hydraulic pump 86' employed to supply lhydraulic fluid pressure to a hydraulic system hereinafter described and disclosed in Fig. 11 of the drawings, for controlling a hydraulic coal break-down jack, as hereinafter described in full detail.

The shaft 84' is coupled to another shaft 81', which is in alignment therewith, by a jaw clutch 89' provided with appropriate operating mechanism to move it to engaging or non-engaging position, which shaft 01 carries a worm 09. The two shafts 84' and 81 are supported upon appropriate journal bearings, as illustrated .diagrammatically in Fig. 10 o f the drawings, which journal bearings are supported by appropriate brackets from the plate 1|. The worm 89' meshes with a worm gear 90 keyed rigidly to upright shaft 9| which is iournaled inappropriate journal bearings carried by cups 92 and 93' the former of which is rigidly vattached to plate 1|' and the latter torcover plate 94' rigidly attached to said plate 1|'. At its bottom the shaft sl' carries a handling drum 95' which is rigidly keyed to said shaft 9|', said drum 95 being adapted to receive a exible steel cable for moving the complete mining machine or the part 20, as above described.

It may be mentioned that in cooperation with Aramp 35 by which slack is conveyed by the rear run of the cutter chain 3| to the end 36 of the which vis adapted to press against the side wall or rib of the mine room and thereby guide the cuttings onto said ramp 35. 'It may further be mentioned that a bottom enclosing and protecting p1ate91 (see Fig. 4), is provided to enclose the gears 69 and 8|. Itis also ,to .be noted by reference to Fig. 4 of the drawings that the rear end of the receiving conveyor or feeder 31 is,attached to the combined mining and loading machine by means of hook and chain means 98, there being two such means, one associated with each of the parts 20 and 2|. This results in movement of they feeder 3'|,with the mining and loading machine as vthe latter is fed forwardly and rearwardly, as hereinafter described in more complete detail.

In cooperation with the kerf cutting mechanism afforded particularly by the cutter chain 3| "each o f the parts 20 and 2| is provided with a top generally horizontally positioned kerf cutter mechanism the one associated with part 20 being seen at 99 and the one associated with part 2| being seen at |00. It is to be understood that these mechanisms 99 and |00 are similar,thou`gh one is right hand and the other left hand, and thus a description of the mechanism |00 willsuice for an understanding of the construction of both. .e

It may be stated that the two kerf cutting mechanisms 99 and |00 are mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis defined by the shafts 29 and .29', as a consequence of which kerfs may be cut in a plurality of vertical positions as lillustrated b`y the kerfs |0|, |02, |03 illustrated in Fig. v,1 of the drawings. Furthermore, swinging movement of each of said kerf cutting mechanisms 99 and |00aboutave1tical axis is provided so that kerfs such as kerfs |0|, |02 and |03 may be cut at substantially any position in the face of the mine room. By reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings, it is-to be seen that hydraulic jack or piston motor |04 is provided for ad,

' justing the`mechanism `:iS/about the aforemenreceiving conveyor or feeder 31, I provide a spring tioned horizontal axis. 'It will, of course. be understood that a similar motor |04 is provided for similarly adjusting the kerf cutter mechanismy |00. By reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings it will be seen that hydraulic jacks or piston motors |05 and |06 are provided for swinging the kerf cutting mechanisms 99 and |00, respectively, about the aforementioned upright axes. These hydraulic jacks |05 and |06 will be described more in detail hereinafter.

By reference particularly to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, it will be seen that the kerf cutting mechanism |00 comprises a bracket |01 provided with spaced bottom journal bearings |09, |09 which are journaled on brackets l I0 and respectively, which depend from top plate 38 to which they are rigidly attached. To the upper end of the bracket |01 is attached a supplemental or supporting'frame ||2 the forward extent of which is seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. It is also to be noted by reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings that said supporting frame ||2 is provided with a forward'arcuate crosspiece ||3 which receives a hydraulic jack simicross-piece ||3 is associated, which frame ||2' in turn supports the guide frame IIB of kerf cutter mechanism 99.

As best seen by reference to Figs. 5 and 6 of "the drawings, the supporting frame |,I2 is proprises a pair spaced channel members IIB'con-` nected at their rear ends by cross-piece I I9 (see Fig. 6). and cross-bearing casting |20. At said rear end the guide frame ||6 is provided with a wide faced built-up bearing 2| which is jour; naled to the afore-described journal bearing 4 and there retained by the afore-described holddown plate I I5, thus providing for free pivotal movement of the guide frame ||6 about the axis of the normally upright shaft ||`I.

It may be stated that the shaft I1 is driven from the jack shaft 29 by a pair of intermeshing beveled pinions |22 and |23, the former of which is keyed to the bottom of said shaft |I| and the latter of which is journaled loosely on said shaft 29 while being held against axial movement with respect thereto. A selective driving relation between the jack shaft 29 and said shaft is effected by jaw clutch |24 which includes shiftable member |25 feathered on said jack shaft 29 for axial movement. Appropriate operating means is provided to shift and non-engaging relation and to hold it in either position.

Extending longitudinally` through the guide frame H6 is a splined drive shaft |26 which is driven from shaft ||1 by intermeshing beveled gears |21, |28 keyed respectively to shafts I|`| and |26, which shaft |26 is supported at one end in a journal bearing in bearing casting |20 and at the opposite'end in a similar member carried between channels I I8, not shown in the drawings.

Positioned above the guide frame ||6 is a kerf cutter bar |29 lying in a generally horizontal plane the rear end of which is mounted upon a supporting block |30 carried on the bottom of a rear protecting trough |3| which trough |3| is, in turn, attached to a forward casting |32 and is supported upon slide bearings |33 (see Fig. 7) which ride upon the top flanges of the channel members I I8 of the guide frame l5 'Ihe casting |32 is made in two separable parts and the lower portion thereof is provided with bearing flanges |34which cooperate with the bottom anges of said channel members I|8 to prevent upward movement `of the cutter bar |29 with respect to the guide frame ||6 while permitting free longitudinal movement of said cutter bar |29 along said guide frame 6.

At its rear end the trough |31| is also slidably supported upon the upper flanges of the channel members |8 and has attached thereto a casting |35 which has bottom flanges cooperating with the bottom anges of channel members ||8 to restrictA upward movement between said casting |35 and the guide frame ||6 while permitting the aforementioned longitudinal movement. The casting |35 is extended forwardly and is provided with a pair of spaced journal bearings |36 and |31 between which is journaled a splined sleeve |38 which is driven by the splines on said shaft |26, said sleeve |38 surrounding said shaft |26, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

the member |25 into engaging tween the top and the bottom of The sleeve |38 has keyed thereto a beveled pinion |39 which meshes with another beveled pinion |40 keyed to the bottom of upright shaft |4| which has a kerf cutting chain drive sprocket |42 formed integral therewith, the shaft |4| being mounted near opposite ends in anti-friction roller bearings |43 and |44, the former of which is carried in a casting |45 attached to the bottom ofsaid protecting trough |3I and the latter of which is carried by a bracket |46 attached at the rear upper end of the cutter bar |29. Protecting labyrinth forming plates |41 and |48 are provided for the bearings |43 and |44, respectively. Extending around the periphery ofthe -cutter bar |29 is a continuous bit carrying cutter chain |49 which is driven by the sprocket |42. The extent of the cutter bar |29 will be evident by reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings where ter bar |29' of kerf cutter mechanism |19 associated with part 20 is illustrated.

From the above description it is manifest that the cutter chain |49 may be driven from the `iacl: shaft 29 under the control of the jaw clutch |24 whenever it is desired to cut a kerf with said kerf cutter mechanism that the kerf cutter mechanism 99 may be controlled in a 'similar manner to cut a kerf. It is furthermore manifest that by controlling the hydraulic jack |04 and the similar jack |04 associated with the the cutter bar |29 may be adjusted about the axis of the jack shaft 29 or 29' whereby kerfs may be cut at substantially any position bethe mine face though it is, of course, impossible to make acut by said kerf cutter mechanism 99 or |00 directly on the bottom, this being performed bythe previously described cutter chain 3| of the mining machine.

Furthermore, as is evident by reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings, and as previously described, the hydraulic jacks |05 and |06 may be employed to swing the kerf cutter mechanisms 99 and |00, respectively, about the axes of the shafts one of which is seen at ||1. It may be stated that the piston of the jack |06 is pivotally attached to a bracket |50 (see Fig. 3), which, in turn, is attached to one of the channel members ||8 of guide frame ||6 and the rear end of the cylinder thereof is pivotally attached to a bracket |5I (see Figs. 3 and 5), by a pivot pin |52, which is carried by the supporting frame ||2.

As was previously suggested, the cutter bar |29 and the protecting trough 3| are mounted for longitudinal adjustment along the axis of the shaft |26 and this provides for the rectilinear feeding of said cutter bar |29 to cut a kerf while the main body of the mining machine is stationary. To eiect this rectilinear feeding movement I provide apair of hydraulic jacks or piston motors |53 which are connected in parallel, the rear ends of whichare pivotally attached to brackets |54 at the rear of the guide frame ||6 one bracket |54 being carried by each channel member ||8 (see Fig. 5 of the drawings). The piston rods of the jacks |53 are pivotally attached at their forward ends to brackets |55 (Fig. 7) formed integral with the previously described casting |32. It upon expansion or contraction of the hydraulic jacks |53 the kerf cutter |29 will be slid rectilinearly along the axis of the shaft |26 all the while a drive connection is effected to rotate the cutter chain |49. f

It is thus manifest that by virtue of the two the similar cut- |00. It is also evidentv part 2| that the position of is thus manifest thatkerf cutting mechanisms 06 and |00 rectilinear kerfs maybe cut over a wide area of the mine room face and that it is possible not only to cut rectilinear kerfs but arcuate kerfs may be cut, after one or both of the kerf cutters 68 and have been fed into the mine face, by swinging said kerf cutter about the axis of the shafts, one of which is seen at ||1, by means 4oi the hydraulic jacks |05 and |06. In this connection it may be stated that by feeding the two kerf cutting mechanisms.t 90 and |00 at the same -time there 'will be a ,balance upon the unit both during rectilinear feeding and during arcuate feeding, particularly where the latter is effected by moving the cutter bars -|29 and |29 simul- V taneously toward or away from each other.

To provide for the breaking down of the coal after the desired kerfs have been cut, I provide a pair of hydraulic break-down jacks one for each of the paris 20 and 2|, onel of which is seen (Fig. l), at |56' whichis carried on the end of a long handle |51' and which is controlled by a hydrauliccontrol system illustrated in Fig. l1 of the drawingah'ereinafter described in complete detail.

The mining machine of my invention is adapted to slide over the mine floor as previously indicated, and to provide a sliding andsupporting surface therefor while at the same time providingfor the adjustment of the machine vertically. and angularly with respect to a horizontal plane or to the plane of the mine iloor I provide four adjustable shoes upon which the machine rests on said mine floor, there being a forward and rearward shoe of similar construction associated with each of the parts 20 and 2|. The' forward shoe mechanism for part 2| is seen-at .|58 and the rearward shoe mechanism therefor is seenl at |59 in Fig. 3 of the drawings, similar shoe mechanisms'for the parts 20 being seen at |58 and |59 in saidiFig. 3.

The shoe mechanism |58 is illustrated in detail in Eig. 8 of the drawings and comprises a bracket F60 extending upwardly from the lplate 38 to which it is rigidly attached, to the upper end of which bracket |60 is plvotally attached a hydraulic jack |6|, the piston of which is attached to an arcuate shoe |62 having a relatively wide mine floor engaging face |63. The

shoe |62 extends through bottom openings inv the plates 22 and 38 whereby itmay directly engage the mine floor. It is manifest that by expanding and contracting the jack |6| as hereinafter described in full detail, that portion of the mining machine may be raised and lowered with respect to the mine floor. As hereinafter described, each of the shoe mechanisms |58, |59, |56' and |59 is individually controllable whereby the mining machine may be raised or lowered or' tilted in a universal manner to adjust the -plane of the bottom thereof with respect to a horizontal plane. After any adjustment of the shoe mechanisms is effected the hydraulic jack thereof mayv be locked in position to maintain the adjustment. The slightly diierent structure of the shoe mechanisms |59 and |59 is obvious from a reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings.

To provide for forward feeding movement of the combined mining and loading machine each of the parts 20 and 2| is provided with a hydraulic jack, that associated with the part 2| vbeing seen at |64 in Fig. 3 of the drawings and that associated with part 20 being seen at |66 in Fig. l of the drawings. Said jacks |64 and |64 are similar in structure and as seen by reference to Fig. l of the drawings, Jack |64' is pivotally attached to a bracket at the rear end of the part 20 and has a bifurcated head |66' on the piston with a mine jack |66'. The hydraulic jack |64 is likewise provided with a bifurcated head |65 which is associated with a mine Jack similar to the mine Jack |66 during feeding of the mining machine.

Also at the rear end of eachof the parts 20 and 2| is a hydraulic control valve assembly that associated with the part 2| being seen at |61 ancllstlhat associated with the part 20 being seen a It may be stated that when the combined mining and loading machine is in operation two op- Attention is now directed to Fig. 12 of tntl drawings which illustrates the vpiping diagram for the hydraulic control systems controlling the hydraulic piston motors or jacks associated with the parts 20 and 2| of the mining machine. It is to be understood that similar elements of the parts 20 and 2| are given similar reference characters except for the fact that in general those applied to the part 20 will carry a prime, and it may be stated 'that throughout the specific-ation wherever an. element is designated by a reference character which is a prime that it refers to an element of the part 20 corresponding to a similar element of the part 2| having a similar reference character except for the omission of the prime.

The individu-al systems for the parts 20 and 2| are essentially similar except for differences hereinafter specifically pointed out, so the system associated with part 2| will be described, it Ibeing understood that a similar description will applyto that associated with part 20. Said system |68 which, by reference to Fig. 10 of the drawings, is seen to be driven by a pinion |69 which meshes with gear 28 keyed to shaft 29, as previously described, -as a consequence of which gear pump 68 will operate whenever jack shaft 29 rotates. Feed pipe |10 leads from a hydraulic fluid tank or reservoir |1|, of which there is only one for the entire machine, to the input of the pumps |68 and |68'. The output of the pump |68 delivers to a pressure pipe |12 which leads to the control valve assembly |61 at which there are fouryk control valves, one individual to the hydraulic piston motor or jack |00, one individual to the two hydraulic piston motors or jacks |53, one individualto the hydraulic piston motor or jack |64, and' another individual to the hydraulic piston motor or jack |06.

It may be stated that the structure of the control valve assembly |61 preferably' follows the them in any position to the pump |68, by way of the return pipe |13 leading from control valve assembly |61 to a distribution block |14 which is connected -b'y a return pipe |15 to the tank |1|, whenever all of the four control valves associated with control valve assembly |61 are in their normal positions. The moving of any of said control valves from its normal position automatically cuts off this no-load by-pass and directs the fluid to the proper conduit to control one of the jacks |04, |06, |53 or |64. Furthermore, any two or more of said jacks |04, |06, |53 or |64 may be operated at the same time and when so operated they are connected in series, that is, the out-put of one of said jacks is fed to the other, thus insuring that both will move whenever two control valves are operated. Likewise, in case three of said control valves are operated in unison, three of said jacks will be connected in series and all will operate at the same time.

To protect the pump |68 a high pressure relief valve |16 is provided in a relief conduit or pipe |11 which communicates between the pressure pipe |12 and the distribution block |14. It is evident that the relief valve |16 will provide a high pressure relief for the pump |68 should anything whatever cause an undesirable high pressure in the pressure pipe |12. An example of this may be the expansion of any jack to its limit with the control valve therefor retained in its open position or any attempt to move a portion of the mining machine yby one of the hydraulic jacks which movement is obstructed by any strong obstruction.

To provide for the adjustment of the hydraulic jacks associated with the shoe mechanisms |58 and |59 I provide a by-pass pressure pipe |18 to which the jacks associated with said shoe mechanisms |58 and |59 are connected by conduits |19 and |30, respectively, through in-put control valves |8| and |82, respectively. These jacks are only positively moved in one direction, namely, to elevate the mining machine since the weight of the mining machine is effective to move them in the reverse direction whenever their discharge control valves |83 and |84, respectively, are open, connecting the conduits |19 and |80, respectively, to the return pipe |85 leading to distribution block |14. It may be stated that since the parts 20 and 2| are separable, the four pipes or conduits enclosed by the circle |86 are of flexible construction and are provided with removable couplings, the ends of which may be plugged whereby they may be connected together and disconnected when said parts 20 and 2| are attached or detached, respectively.

In Fig. 11 of the drawings there is disclosed the hydraulic control system for the hydraulic break-down jack |56, it being understood that there will be two such systems for the two similar jacks associated with the parts 20 and 2|. Said system comprises the pump 86 which receives hydraulic fluid from a tank |81 by way of feed pipe |88 and delivers it to pressure pipe |89 leading to three-way control valve |90 which, in its normal position of adjustment, provides a noload by-pass for said pump 86 by way of return pipe |9I. A high pressure by-pass valve |92 is provided in a high pressure by-pass conduit |93 to protect the pump 86 in case excessive pressure appears in the pressure pipe |89. The hydraulic jack |56 is of the double acting type being prolvided with twovfeed pipes whereby it may be of the dotted line positions thefja'ck |56 will be tached together in the manner illustrated in Figs.

1, 3 and 5 of the drawings and the shoe mechanisms |58, |59, |58' and |59 will be adjusted by means of the control valves |8|, |82, |83, |04 and chine in a generally horizontal position at any desired elevation above the mine oor and with the jacks |64 and |64 positioned against the jacks |66, |66'. With one or both of the driving motors 23 and 23' in operation the shafts.29 and 29' will rotate and the cutter chain 8|`will be placed in operation by engaging the clutch including jaws 52 and 54.

It may be stated that if relatively soft coal is being cut only one of the motors 23, 23 need be operated and as an example of the manner in which they may be operated alternate shifts of workmenv may use alternate motors 23, 23'. It is manifest that by employing the two motors 23 and 23 the overall height of the mining machine may be maintained at a minimum which is particularly desirable as the mining machine may have to work in a low seam mine where height is a controlling factor. In case very hard coal is encountered it is manifest that increased power may be applied to the cutter chain 3| by operating both of the motors 23, 23 in unison. With the cutter chain 3| rotating about the bottom of the combined mining and loading machine a bottom kerf will be cut, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, by feeding the entire mining machine hydraulic jacks |64, |64. controlled by the two operators, one. positioned at a control valve assembly |61 and the other at control valve assembly |61'. After the bottom horizontal kerf has been cut the cutter bars |29, |29 will be fed into the mine face to cut a plurality of kerfs over the face of the mine room, such as the kerfs |0|, |02 and |03.

As was above mentioned, if desired, cutter bars |29 and |29 may also be swung about the axis of the shafts ||1 and I1 to cut arcuate kerfs though in general only a rectilinear movement of the cutter bars |29, |29' along various adjusted angles of the shafts |26 and |26 will be made.

As was previously suggested. these kerfs are preferably distributed over the room face both vertically and horizontally.

After the desired numberof kerfs have been cut the hydraulic break-downlacks |56 and |56' will be inserted in the kerfs which are above the bottom kerf moving progressively from the bottom-most of them, similar to the kerf |03, progressively upward and in each instance the hydraulic break-down jacks |56 and |56 upon ex-- pansion will break-'off the coal which is below said jack which willv fall into the pan or area 60. The resulting face slopes forwardly from the bottom upwardly due to the positions of the forward ends of kerfs 0|, |02 and |03, as illustrated in Fig.. l of the drawings, which is due to the fact that the pivotal axis of mining mechanisms 99 and |00 is appreciably below the planes of rectilinear movement thereof which pivotal axis is along the axis of shafts 2s, 2s'. During the time' that this break-down of the coal is being accomplished the endless gathering conveyors 39, 39'

` .will be placed in operation to convey the mate- As was previously pointed out, any slack machine.

formed by the cutter chain 3| will be conveyed by the rear run thereof up the ramp 35 and discharged into the end 36 of the feeder 31 byl which it will be removed with the coal received in hopper 6| thereof. AIf during the operation of the It is thus manifest thata very flexible mining and loading machine of high capacity has been provided which will perform a complete' mining and`loading operation simultaneously.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangementof parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdened by the claims hereto appended, and I therefore wish not to be restricted to disclosed.

Having thus described and shown an embodiment of my invention, what I desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States is:

1. A mining machine vcomprising a pair of complementary parts, each part having a kerfthe precise construction herein cutter and driving motor, said parts when joined machine it is found that the cutter chain 3| is striking a stone or a hard seam which requires that the-position of attack thereof be adjusted, cables associated with the drums 95 and 95 and attached to mine Jacks in the mine room may be employed to reverse or back the machine away from the room face after which the shoe mechanisms |58, |59, |58' and |59' may be adjusted to position the attack of the cutter chain 3| to avoid the obstruction and to follow the desired path.

It is manifest that by virtue of the hydraulic controls of the mining and loading machine that the entire machine may be very easily controlled to effect the cutting, breaking down and rearward conveying of the coal. After the machine has reached the end of its travel in any mine room and it is desired to remove itto another place, the machine may be broken up into two similar parts comprising the parts and 2| and individually removed from the mine room. This is of considerable importance because the mine room has a width only slightly greater than the rear end of the combined mining and loading machine and substantially equal to the front end thereof and it would be very difficult to remove the entire mining machine due to these crowded conditions. However, since each of the parts 20 and 2| has its own operating motor by which power can be applied to its own drum 95\ or 95 it is manifest that the individual parts 20 and 2| can be separately handled within the mine room, thus making for their easy removal.

As was above pointed out, the hydraulic conduits of the hydraulic control system of Fig. 12 which extend between the two parts 20- and 2| are removably attached and. may be plugged up to prevent any loss of hydraulic fluid or oil from the hydraulic control system.

Furthermore, as Was above pointed out, the friction clutch 55 disclosed in Fig. 5 of the drawings is particularly valuable to inch the cutter chain 3| thereby providing for the ready setting of the cutter bits while the driving motor, suchas the motor 23, is in continuous operation.

It is furthermore to be pointed out that if desired, the cutter chain 3| may operate simultaneously with the cutter chains |49 and |49' during which time afsingle bottom horizontal kerf the full width of the room and two intermediate or top kerfs may be cut simultaneously. Furthermore, the cutter bars |29 and |30 may be swung simultaneously either toward or from each other either during the time the bottom kerf is being cut or independently thereof, thereproviding a single bottom cutter bar, and a continuous bottom bit carrying cutter chain mounted said bottom plate, each part also having an endless flight carrying conveyor 'chain which chains cooperate to gather material received by said bottom plate and convey it centrally of thecombination machine to a rearward discharge position, and means for driving all of said chains and for feeding said cutter bars as aforesaid.

3. A combination kerf-cutting Y and loading machine comprising a pair of similar parts each including a b ottom plate which bottom plates combine to form a bottom cutter bar, of an endless bit carrying cutter chain on said bar for cutting a bottom horizontal kerf, each part also including .an individual top cutter bar having an l endless cutter chain thereon'and means for feeding it on its longitudinal axis relative to said bottom plate, each part also having an endless flight carrying conveyor chain which chains cop operate to gather material received ,by said bot'- tom plate andconvey it centrally of the combination machine to a rearward discharge'position, and means for driving all of said chains and for feeding said cutter bars as aforesaid,

said top cutter bars being swingable about both horizontal andupright axes.

4. In a mining machine, the combination with a .frame adapted to slide over a mine floor, of a bottom kerf-cutter formed las an integral part1 Y of said frame and movable in unison therewith, said frame providing a material receiving pan at its forward end surrounded by said kerfcutter, gathering mechanism on said frame constructed and arranged to gather vmaterial on said pan and to elevate it and convey it rearwardly' and there discharge/ it into a receptacle, a material receiving'receptacle attached to Ythe rear end of said machine for movement therewith, adjustable mining mechanism positioned above said pan which-cooperates with said kerf-cutter to break down coal onto said` pan, hydraulic jack means for feeding said mining machine forward while cutting afbottom kerf, cable drum means for moving said mining machine rearwardly, and

adjustable shoes for raising, lowering or tilting said frame relative to a mine floor.

5. In a mining machine, the combination with a main frame, of a supplemental frame pivoted thereto for adjustment relative thereto on a transverse axis, a motor on said main frame, a-

pair of kerf-cutters mounted on said supplemental frame for pivotal movement relatively thereto on an upright axis and for bodily rectilinear movements relatively to the supplemental frame forwardly and rearwardly along the same, means for tilting the supplemental frame on said transverse axis to effect tilting of said kerf-cutters relative to an upright face of a mine vein, means for feeding said kerf-cutters rectilinearly along said supplemental frame into the said face at the adjusted inclination, means for feeding said kerf -cutters arcuately in opposite directions while in the mine vein, and power-transmission mechanism extending from the motor on the main frame to said kerf-cutters to drive the same in its various positions of adjustment and feeding as aforesaid.

6. In a mining machine, the combination with a main frame, ofl a supplemental frame pivotally mounted thereon on a transverse axis, a kerfcutter gui-ded rectilinearly along said supplemental frame, said kerf-cutter being also mounted on said supplemental frame for pivotal movement relatively thereto, a motor on the main frame, power-transmission mechanism extending from said motor to said kerf-cutter to drive the same in its various positions of adjustment relative to said supplemental frame, duid-pressure motor means between said main and supplemental frames for adjusting said supplemental frame on said transverse axis, fluid-pressure motor means for arcuately feeding said kerf-cutter relatively to said supplemental frame, and fluid-pressure motor means for feeding said kerf-cutter rectilinearly relatively to said .supplemental frame.

7. A combined mining and loading machine comprising two separable complementary sections which when attached together provide a bottom cutter bar and a material receiving pan, two endless conveyors one on each section guided along the joining edges back of the receiving pan, the adjacent -runs of the conveyors on the adjacent sections co-operating to move material from the pan along a common trough between the conveyors, an endless chain kerf-cutterv carried by said cutter bar and adapted to travel yalong the forward edge' of the receiving pan transversely of the direction of travel of the adjacent runs of the conveyor, and means for driving said kerf-cutter and said conveyors.

8. In a mining machine, the combination lwith a supporting frame having two complementary sections one detachably connected to the other, of an endless chain kerf-cutter extending around both sections, two motors one mounted on each section, mechanism connecting said motors to said kerf-cutter to enable either motor alone to effect driving of the kerf-cutter or to enable both motors operating in unison to drive said kerf-cutter, two handling drums one on one of said sections and the other on the other section, and driving means on each section between the motor thereon and its associated handling drum, to enable the handling of each section independently of the other when detached from each other.

9. A combined mining and loading machine comprising a pair of complementary frames terial receiving pan and a cutter bar, an endless chain kerf-cutter mounted on such cutter bar in advance of the said receiving'pa'n, two gather-` ing conveyors one on each of said frames and eachcomprising spaced flights connected to endless draft elements, adjacent flight runs adapted to travel along the rearward extension of the receiving pan where the frames are joined together, two handling drums one on each frame, mechanism on each frame for operating the associated handling d rum, means for driving said kerf-cutter and said conveyors, and two motors one on each frame connected to said kerf-cutter and conveyor driving means, the motor on each frame being adapted to be connected to the mechanism for operating the associated handling drum on that frame.

10. A vcombined mining and loading machine comprising the combination with supporting framework in two complementary sections which when connected are adapted to form a material receiving pan at the forward end of the framework with a conveyor trough extending rearwardly from such receiving pan, an endless chain kerf-cutter extending along the front edge of said receiving pan and around both sections of the framework, two endless conveyors one on each of said sections, each conveyor comprising spaced flights adapted to travel in the same direction rearwardly from said receiving pan along said trough, mechanism for driving said kerf-cutter and said conveyors comprising a separable coupling adapted to be uncoupled when said sections are separated, two motors one on each section and each connected to said driving mechanism to operate the same, one motor being adapted to operate the kerf-cutter and the conveyors when coal to be cut is relatively soft and both motors being adapted to operate in unison when the coal to be cutis relatively hard, two handling drums, and driving mechanism between each motor and its associated handling drum to effect handling of each of said sections separately when detached from each other.

11. In a mining machine, the combination with a cutter bar, of a bit-carrying chain kerf-cutter guided along said cutter bar, a driving sprocket connected to said chain kerf-cutter, a main power shaft, an auxiliary shaft connected to said sprocket, power transmission mechanism between said shafts comprising two separate clutches one between a jaw clutch for normal operation of the kerf-cutter and the other being a friction clutch for driving the chain kerf-cutter by increments while the jaw clutch is released to enable the cutting bits to be removed or replaced on the kerf-cutter chain.

12. In a mining machine, the combination with a main frame, of a bottom kerf-cutter mounted thereon, a supplemental frame, a pair of top chain kerf-cutters mounted on said supplemental frame for rectilinear and arcuate feeding movements relative thereto, mechanism pivotally mounting said supplementalframe on said main frame on a transverse axis between the planes of feeding movements of said bottom kerf-cutter and said top kerf-cutters but nearer the plane of the bottom kerf-cutter to enable adjustment of said top kerf-cutters into a position for rectilinear feed to the plane of the roof of the mine entry and to enable adjustment of said top kerf-cutters into positions for rectilinear feed in spaced-apart planes with the inner ends of the kerfs spaced adapted to be connected together to form a maabove thebottom kerf in an upwardly extending arcuate series, and means for operating said kericutters including the feed thereof.

13. In a mining machine, the combination with a main frameradapted to rest on and slide over the mine bottom, of a chain kerf-cutter on said main frame in position to cut a bottom kerf in continuation of the oor of the mine chamber, a supplemental frame pivotally mounted on said main frame on a transverse axis, a pair of chain kerf-cutters mounted on said supplemental frame for feeding movements relatively thereto rectilinearly and arcuately, means for adjusting said supplemental frame onl said transverse axis toadjust said pair of chain kerf-cutters for the cutting of a series of kerfs extendingl from the lower portion of the mine vein to the roof limit there- 10 ing face will be arcuate transversely and also arcuate from the oor to the roof of the mine chamber.

NILS D. LEVIN. 

